I Indoor Music Games e SoundSport

2016 will see four events in four different countries:• Saturday 27th February (Dublin, Ireland)• Saturday 23rd April (Middelburg, The Netherlands)• Saturday 30th April (Lydney, England)• Saturday 21st May (Glasgow, Scotland)

Each show will feature two categories, firstly the DCI SoundSport category, followed by the Indoor Music Games. Both formats are aimed at encouraging new or former bands/corps to form/reform and get involved in the activity, at a level that is more achievable at this point in time. It can also be used by groups who are going through a rebuilding process as the demands of this type of contest are less than that of the normal marching band/drum corps competition.

All shows will be held in venues sports halls or gymnasiums, similar to those used for winter guard events although the season is a spring activity. This allows groups who wish to go on and compete in the summer season to do so. All groups will perform in the same arena and there will be one results ceremony at the end of the show where the results of both sections will be announced.

Registration Registration is now open and will close 28 days before each event. The registration fee for these events is €40 / £ 30 per unit, per show. Further information will be sent out to all competing units by the show sponsors of the shows that they enter. We hope that your group will be able to join us for this exciting new series. Further information is available from Andy Hewlett at andy@drumcorpseurope.org.

About DCI SoundSport SoundSport was launched by Drum Corps International in 2014 and has quickly attracted groups from all around the world. Events showcase instrumental ensembles of any instrumentation and any skill level all year-round, spotlighting their unique talents and creativity like never before.

• SoundSport‘s goal is to be local, low cost and entertaining for both the participants and the audience • SoundSport teams can be performance ensembles, mini corps, brass bands, alumni corps, small drum corps/marching bands, school or college bands, independent groups or whatever you can dream up • There are no age restrictions and all instruments are legal • SoundSport teams consist of five or more members • Teams have a block of 10 minutes for setting up, performaning and leaving the performance stage • The standard SoundSport performance area is 20 yards deep by 30 yards wide, similar to a basketball arena.

SoundSport teams SoundSport teams come from many different genres including performance ensembles, mini corps, brass bands, alumni corps, small drum corps/marching bands, school or college bands, independent groups or whatever you can dream up! Teams can also be subsets of larger organizations or bands, some of which may choose to create multiple teams, each with a unique style, personality and repertoire. SoundSport teams may include auxiliary performers, such as background dancers, colour guard members, baton twirlers and other similar performers, but the musical ensemble is the main focus.

All shows will feature a panel of 3 Drum Corps Europe accredited judges who will provide feedback by means of an educational commentary to inform teams on their development as a music ensemble. Execution will be important; however SoundSport will place additional emphasis on audience engagement and showmanship. Remember, SoundSport is all about achieving the best combination of both excellence and fan enjoyment. Whilst teams are 'adjudicated' there are no scores. The goal should be to attain excellence in everything the competitors do. Achievement levels will be awarded to each group as an indicator of the team’s success in meeting specified adjudication criteria.

At the conclusion of the contests the judges will deliberate to decide a “best of show” recipient. When determining the best of show recipient, the judge panel will give consideration to the Overall Impression as a main factor. There will also be awards for the best youth group whose members are all 25 and younger, as well as the best cadet group whose members are all 16 and younger.

About the Indoor Music Games The Indoor Music Games section will be held in the same arena as the SoundSport section. Much of the criteria is the same as SoundSport, but it is aimed primarily at groups who intend to perform a full marching show. The IMG will use a linear scoring system similar to that used in the European Music Games during the summer.

• All instruments are legal• IMG teams consist of five or more members • Teams have a block of 10 minutes for setting up, performing and leaving the performance stage • The standard IMG performance area is 20 yards deep by 30 yards wide, similar to a basketball arena.

All shows will feature a panel of 3 DCE accredited judges who will provide feedback by means of an educational commentary to inform teams on their development as a music ensemble. A score will be given for each caption and the overall score will be announced during the results ceremony, in a similar manner to most European marching band and drum corps events.

ClassesClasses for IMG shows are the same as the European Music Games i.e. (age class will be determined by the oldest member of an ensemble):• Junior Class - 16 years and under• Premier Class - all-age